How to Get Free Internet Legally in 2019

Finding free internet access is easier than you think, even inside of your own home.

Internet providers are creating new, innovative plans that provide free home internet access. There are free apps that allow you to search locally for free wifi. Then, there are non-profits who have partnered with service providers to offer free or low-cost internet to low-income households.

Free Internet at Home

It’s easier than you might think to get free internet access in your own home. Here are some of the best ways to get logged on without paying a steep monthly fee.

FreedomPop

When you’re looking for ways to save money, having free internet is a quick win that will save you cash instantly — sometimes as much as $100 per month, depending on the internet prices in your area.

FreedomPop — a cellular and wireless internet service provider — offers data, voice, and text plans that start at zero cost. You will have to purchase an inexpensive hotspot, which you can then use to connect all your devices (laptops, desktop computers, tablets and smartphones) to the internet.

If you sign up, you’ll receive the hotspot in the mail within a few days. Then, just plug the USB device into your equipment and you’ll have an instant internet connection. You will have limited data, however, as the free monthly plan is limited to 200 phone minutes, 500 text messages, and 500 megabytes of data.

If that amount of data isn’t high enough for your needs, there are other affordable plans available. For example, you can opt for the 2GB plan for $9.99 a month when you sign up for 12 months. FreedomPop’s plans go all the way up to 10GB, which you can get for $19.99 a month with a one-year commitment. That’s not free, but it’s still a good deal.

The speed may not be as great as you’ll find with higher-cost wireless internet service, but FreedomPop has the best speed among the free at-home internet options.

Ebates regularly changes its cash-back offers, so the reward may not always be that high. But if you’re planning on signing up with FreedomPop, consider signing up with Ebates too. You’ll keep more money in your pocket!

Unlimited Data Plans

Another option is to sign up for an unlimited data plan with a mobile phone and then use your device’s hotspot at home.

The bad thing about this option is that it will be fairly slow, which means it won’t be good for much more than checking your email. If you want to use your internet connection for watching movies or playing online games, the bandwidth will probably be insufficient.

Before signing up, make sure to check with your phone carrier to see if your plan truly is unlimited (and includes hotspot connectivity). Some unlimited data plans have restrictions, so you have to do your homework to ensure you’re getting what you need.

Also, some of these types of plans include a “fair use” policy that prohibits connecting your device to a computer to gain full internet access.

Juno

With Juno, you can get up to 10 hours of free dial-up internet per month for no cost. You will, of course, need an actual landline phone connection in order to access the service. And while dial-up does offer a generally-reliable connection, you may be surprised at just how slow the speed is — especially if you’re young enough to have never used dial-up before!

If you need something faster and don’t mind paying for low-cost internet, Juno does offer other packages. They have an accelerated dial-up internet service that gives you better speeds. Those plans start at $29.95 per month.

One thing to note about the accelerated plan is that it will only speed up certain sites. Secured and/or encrypted pages — in other words, any website beginning with https:// — won’t be accelerated.

That’s a big chunk of the web these days, so depending on your circumstances you might want to sign up for the free version first. If you find the speed is lacking, you could upgrade to the faster plan.

The sign-up process is quick, and if you don’t like the service you can cancel it. You’re not locked into a contract with Juno.

NetZero

This was one of the first companies to offer free internet, having done so since the late 1990s. Like Juno, the free internet option with NetZero is limited to 10 hours per month. And it’s also a dial-up service, so you’ll still need a landline phone connection.

If the free plan doesn’t carry enough data for you, there are other data plans, ranging from low-cost to pretty expensive. The basic plan gives you 1GB for $17.95 per month. The highest-cost plan is the Platinum Plus, which offers 8GB for $79.95. Those prices are a little misleading, however, because NetZero adds a $3.95 monthly access fee to every plan (except the free one).

With any carrier or plan you select, you’ll want to make sure to read all the fine print. That will help you avoid any surprises and hidden fees.

Free Public Wifi Hotspots

There are a lot of spots outside your home where you can access free internet.

WiFi Map

WiFi Map is a smartphone app that helps you discover free WiFi hotspots near your current location. It has more than 100 million free hotspots listed, so you’ll always have plenty of options.

The free version of this app only covers a 2.5-mile radius from wherever you are. If you’re on foot, you won’t want to walk farther than that anyway. If you’re driving, you’ll be able to quickly get to the nearest hotspot and start surfing.

This is a great app to have locally. But it really shines for those who travel frequently. It will help you stay connected for free when you’re on the go, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure.

And if you’re traveling internationally, you’ll really come to appreciate this app. In many places around the world, WiFi isn’t always free and cellular internet service can be slow or completely absent.

National Chain Stores

Many national stores and restaurants offer free WiFi, so if you decide to ditch paying for internet service you can save money fast by visiting these well-known places. There are too many chains that offer free internet access to list them all here, but some of the most popular include McDonald’s, Starbucks and Panera Bread.

I’ve used the free WiFi at quite a few national chains while on vacation. Also, since I work from home, it’s a great way to switch up my environment.

Starbucks recently changed its policy, and now welcomes non-paying customers into its cafes. But if you go to a business for the free WiFi and feel obligated to buy something, you might burn through money quickly. A $7 latte every time you visit Starbucks adds up pretty quickly, so you might be better off just paying for home internet.

Public Libraries

Public libraries are always a great deal that people forget about. You can get free books, movies, and audio recordings. And you can even save on utilities by using the free WiFi network at your library.

The best part of using a library for your WiFi is that you don’t need to feel compelled to buy anything. And most cities, whether big or small, have libraries that provide free internet access. They’ll usually have desktop computers you can use for free, too, if you don’t have a laptop of your own.

A bonus feature of going to the library for this is that they have staff waiting and ready to help you. While they may not all be computer experts, the clerks and librarians usually know enough to troubleshoot any minor issues you encounter.

If you’re using the public access desktop computers there, make sure to log out of every account you open. That’s crucial for your privacy and security when you’re sharing a public computer. And you should strongly consider using two-factor authentication to increase your account security.

Xfinity Hotspots

This is an option only for Comcast Xfinity customers — but it’s a good one. There are tons of Xfinity hotspots all over the country, and access comes bundled with your home internet or TV package.

If you’re not an Xfinity internet customer, you don’t necessarily have to sign up for their monthly plan to log on. You can get an Xfinity WiFi On Demand pass when you’re at a hotspot. You’ll get a free hour before having to pick a daily, weekly or monthly pass that works for you.

Low-Cost and Low-Income Internet Service Providers

If you don’t mind forking over a little money for low-cost internet access, but you never want to pay full price for anything, there are some good low-cost options. But these can be location-based and income-based, so they may or may not work for you.

This is a national non-profit organization which tries to give everyone the social and economic advantage of having an internet connection.

In today’s world, not having an internet connection can cripple a person’s social and employment opportunities.

This organization works with the Federal Communications Commission and has partnered with local service providers to offer low-cost internet. Since 2012, they’ve helped over 600,000 people get connected to the internet.

It helps people find low-cost access by entering their zip code. You’ll also fill out a checklist of questions that may qualify you for a local discount. From there, you’ll be given a list of the best offers in your area.

All Free ISP is a database that helps you find free or cheap internet access in your area. The database has a list of free ISP local dial-up access numbers.

To find your best option, select your state or enter an area code. But not every city will have options, so if you live in a smaller area look at the options in one of the larger places nearby.

The database is a good place to start. But many of the options include NetZero and Juno, so if it appears your city isn’t listed, it may not hurt to check with the providers directly instead of relying on the database.

About The Author

R.J. Weiss is the founder and editor of The Ways To Wealth, a Certified Financial Planner™, husband and father of three. He's spent the last 10+ years writing about personal finance and has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, MSN Money, and other publications.

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